Karinny Ferreira Campos

Reemergence of Vaccinia Virus during Zoonotic Outbreak, Pará State, Brazil

In 2010, vaccinia virus caused an outbreak of bovine vaccinia that affected dairy cattle and rural workers in Pará State, Brazil. Genetic analyses identified the virus as distinct from BeAn58058 vaccinia virus (identified in 1960s) and from smallpox vaccine virus strains. These findings suggest spread of autochthonous group 1 vaccinia virus in this region.

Surto de encefalomielite equina Leste na Ilha de Marajó, Pará

Nove casos de encefalomielite equina foram estudados na Ilha de Marajo, estado do Para, Brasil. Os equinos apresentavam dificuldade em se manter em estacao, andavam em circulo, tinham acentuada depressao, palpebras cerradas, paralisia da lingua, tremores musculares, bruxismo, anorexia e desidratacao. Alguns apresentavam diminuicao dos reflexos auricular, palpebral, de ameaca, diminuicao do tonus da lingua e taquicardia. Posicao de auto-auscultacao foi observada com frequencia. Os animais muitas vezes eram encontrados apoiados em troncos e cercas para se manterem em estacao. A necropsia verificou-se hemorragia das leptomeninges e da medula, alguns apresentaram ainda aderencia das leptomeninges. A histopatologia verificou-se encefalite difusa que afetava principalmente a substância cinzenta, com meningite e coroidite. Foi observada perivasculite mononuclear. Em dois equinos identificou-se o virus da encefalomielite equina Leste pela reacao de Semi-Nested transcricao reversa de polimerase em cadeia (Semi-Nested RT-PCR).

Occurrence of Pseudocowpox virus associated to Bovine viral diarrhea virus-1, Brazilian Amazon

In 2011, an outbreak of severe vesicular disease occurred in the state of Pará, Amazon region. Besides proliferative or verrucous lesions, cattle showed atypical clinical signs such as diarrhea and leading to death. The animals were submitted to clinical, pathological and molecular diagnosis, and laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of Pseudocowpox virus (PCPV), a Parapoxvirus genus member, and have also found Bovine viral diarrhea virus-1 (BVDV-1), probably causing persistent infection. The results of molecular diagnostics, followed by sequencing data demonstrated the circulation of both viruses (PCPV and BVDV-1) in an area previously affected by another poxvirus, as Vaccinia virus.The cocirculation between PCPV and BVDV-1 indicates a major concern for animal health because the clinical presentation can be a severe disease. This is the first detection of PCPV in the Brazilian Amazon.

Queilite angular traumática em eqüinos associada à ingestão de Panicum maximum

Uma condicao com aumento da fenda bucal de equinos por lesao na comissura labial foi estudada. Este aumento tinha extensao variavel e era uni ou bilateral. Na mucosa da bochecha da comissura labial exposta havia pequenas erosoes. Durante a mastigacao havia perda de pequena quantidade de capim e saliva pela fenda bucal aumentada. Os animais apresentavam bom estado nutricional. O exame histopatologico de tecido retirado da comissura labial revelou epidermite superficial. Nas quatro propriedades onde se verificou o problema, constatou-se que os equinos eram mantidos em sistema extensivo de criacao em pastagem de Panicum maximum (variedades Tanzânia, Mombaca, Tobiata e Coloniao), com folhas maduras, altas, lignificadas e de bordos cortantes. De acordo com os dados epidemiologicos, com os achados clinicos e histopatologicos, conclui-se que essas lesoes foram causadas pela acao cortante das folhas de Panicum maximum, associada a forma de apreensao da pastagem alta e mastigacao pelos equinos.

Fatal bothropic snakebite in a horse: a case report

The present study reports a snakebite in a horse in the state of Para, Brazil. At initial evaluation the animal was reluctant to walk and had tachycardia, tachypnea, severe lameness, bleeding on the pastern and swelling around the left hind leg. Blood samples from the bleeding sites, took on the first day, showed leukocytosis and neutrophilia, whereas biochemical values of urea and creatinine were significantly increased. The chosen treatment was snake antivenom, fluid therapy, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents and diuretic drugs. On the fourth day of therapy, the hematological values were within normal parameters. There was improvement related to the clinical lameness and swelling of the limb. However, a decrease in water intake and oliguria were observed. On the seventh day the animal died. Necropsy revealed areas of hemorrhagic edema in the left hind limb and ventral abdomen; the kidneys presented equimosis in the capsule, and when cut they were wet. Moreover, the cortex was pale, slightly yellow and the medullary striae had the same aspect. Based on these data, we concluded that the snakebite in the present study was caused by Bothrops spp. and that renal failure contributed to death.

Lead poisoning in cattle and chickens in the state of Pará, Brazil

The present study describes the occurrence of lead poisoning in cattle and chickens in Para, Brazil. In a lot composed of 80 calves from a dairy herd, 10 animals became sick and nine died, but one animal recovered after being removed from the paddock. Upon inspection of this paddock, the presence of truck batteries used to store energy captured by solar panels was found. The clinical signs observed in calves included difficult breathing, nasal discharge, excessive salivation, corneal opacity, pushing of the head against objects and recumbency. The chickens had decreased oviposition and produced eggs with thin or malformed shells. The necropsy findings of the cattle, as well as the histopathological changes observed, were of little significance except for one animal that showed mild astrocytosis histopathology in the cerebral cortex. In one of the chickens, renal histopathology showed mild multifocal acute tubular necrosis. The mean lead concentrations in the livers and kidneys of the cattle were 93.91mg/kg and 209.76mg/kg, respectively, and the mean concentration detected in chicken livers was 105.02mg/kg. It was concluded that the source of lead poisoning in these calves and chickens were the truck battery plates, which were within reach of the animals.

Infestation by Haematopinus quadripertusus on cattle in São Domingos do Capim, state of Pará, Brazil

Severe infestation with lice was observed on crossbred cattle (Bos taurus indicus ×Bos taurus taurus) in the municipality of São Domingos do Capim, state of Pará, Brazil. Sixty-five animals were inspected and the lice were manually collected, preserved in 70% alcohol and taken to the Animal Parasitology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Brazil, for identification. The adult lice were identified as Haematopinus quadripertusus, and all the cattle examined were infested by at least one development stage of this ectoparasite. The specimens collected were located only on the tail in 80% (52/65) of the cattle, while they were around the eyes as well as on the ears and tail in 20% (13/65). Nits, nymphs and adults of the parasite were respectively collected from 98.46% (64/65), 38.46% (25/65) and 23.08% (15/65) of the animals examined. This is the first report of bovine pediculosis caused by H. quadripertusus in the state of Pará, Brazil. Further studies should be conducted to determine the occurrence pattern of this species in Brazil and its importance to livestock production.